Indonesia Launches Digital Applications to Strengthen and Preserve Batik Industry

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry has introduced digital applications, including the Batik and Craft Ecosystem, Syndi-Synthetical Dyes Indexation, and Digital Batik Motif, aimed at enhancing and safeguarding the country’s batik industry.

Andi Rizaldi, Head of the ministry’s Standardization and Industrial Services Agency, highlighted the initiative’s significance, noting that batik, an emblem of Indonesia’s cultural heritage, also plays a vital role in the national economy. “Batik has become an industrial subsector with increasing international presence, with exports reaching USD 17.5 million in 2023,” Rizaldi stated.

The apps are part of broader efforts to preserve batik’s cultural value while modernizing its production and distribution processes. According to Reni Yanita, Director General of Small and Medium Industries, the ministry is committed to fostering collaboration across the batik industry, involving stakeholders like suppliers, distributors, designers, and industrial centers.

The domestic batik industry, as of August 2024, employs around 200,000 workers across 201 industrial centers and nearly 6,000 small and medium industries, spanning 11 provinces. This collaborative approach aims to make the industry more resilient and efficient, ultimately supporting Indonesia’s heritage and economic development.